It’s that time of year again when the East Coast of Canada will be graced by the presence of beautiful silver fish. They go by the name of Capelin. Each year, thousands of birds and whales congregate at the beaches where Capelin spawn in anticipation of a tasty meal. The whales often put on a show of their own. Throngs of tourists/locals come to see the annual Capelin roll, a natural phenomenon. This is one of those strange, unexpected things that happens. It normally happens in the middle of June or July, however the exact date is never certain.
Every year, the Capelin Roll pop-up festival is a sparkling, breathtaking event. You are immediately drawn to the idea of tens of thousands of tiny silver fish swimming just below the surface of the water. It is therefore not surprising that news of these fish swiftly spreads throughout Newfoundland and Labrador when they start rolling into our coast with the waves.
Everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador, on the eastern coast of Canada, is aware of capelin weather. When the capelin roll in the middle of summer, the inhabitants think they bring cold and RDF (rain, drizzle, and fog). This little, lean fish is delicious and high in Omega-3 fatty acids. They are consumed by the locals either dry, salted, fried, pickled or roasted over an open campfire. Additionally, capelin is highly valued for its roe, or masago, which is mostly shipped to Asia and utilized in sushi.
Read the Scuba News Canada Article on Scuba Diving Middle Cove Beach, Newfoundland with the Capelin
Capelin harvesting is governed by federal Integrated Fishery Management Plans (IFMPs) and Canadian fisheries management rules. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) certifies each exporter.